Well, I think I may be caught up for the moment.
I got to my house at 2:30 this morning. Whole house was dark. DH was asleep. I had to drive the Rental Monster from the airport (where the other girls' cars were left while we were gone) to the house because the rental car counters in the Waco Municipal Airport are not open at 2 am. Go figure. Anyway, after my Friday and Saturday, 9 am Bible class came pretty early this morning. Good thing dh was around to do the driving. And, wonderful thing that he is, he made a lasagna yesterday while I was gone. Since there's just the two of us, we really need help to eat a whole pan of anything, including lasagna. So we invited one of the couples from church over for Sunday lunch. I love having people over to eat. And I love being around this couple. They retired last year from 30+ years of mission work in Costa Rica, so they are full of insight and encouragement for dh and me.
After lunch, when I took the Rental Monster back to the airport, there was a young man working the counter who was quite pleasant and quite helpful. Quite a welcome change from the last interaction I had with that company. I must say, as big as the Rental Monster was, I really liked driving it. Not enough to pay for the truck or the $60 to fill it up, but it was fun while I had it nonetheless.
In other news, I start on my second month of OB tomorrow. That will be fun. I like OB a lot. And even though the hours are longer, I'm looking forward to it. Which means I need to go to bed early for the first time since January. That's going to take some getting used to.
I told VM she could post a link to this space on LSSK, and I told her I'd figure out how to put pictures in here. Well, I don't have any relevant pictures to hand 'cause I don't take lots of pics, but that may have to change. Maybe. Watch this space.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Girls Gone Recruiting
(Written Saturday, posted Sunday)
I am not an extrovert. I can act like one for a while, but in the end it catches up to me. After all the driving I did yesterday and the incident with getting to the hotel yesterday, I'm already emotionally tired. We did get done with dinner and back to the hotel in time to watch Numbers last night (gotta love that show: geeks + cops--what more could you ask for?). The girls decided that we needed to do our nails last night. Well, I did repaint my toenails, but I did not participate in the 12-step Mary Kay pedicure. I do not wear makeup. I wash my face in the shower. I brush my teeth twice a day and my hair once a day. That is the sum total of my interaction with the cosmetics industry. So needless to say, I have no need for the 6-compartment super size travel case to hold my makeup, skincare, nailcare products and accessories. Both of the girls I'm with do. And JC is really good about making me feel like a fat dirty slob because I don't have a 5-step facewashing process and I don't want to go work out this morning. Ugh. I went, because I am apparently a sucker for peer pressure. But I only walked on that silly treadmill for about 10 minutes before I came back to the room (alone!) and took a bath with my laptop playing music I like.
This afternoon, we're going to a residency fair: a bunch of residency programs with tables set up to catch the interest and attention of passing medical students to encourage them to come work with us after they graduate from medical school. I like to do this. Really. But I can only do it for 3 or 4 hours at the time. Then I need to be alone (or at least quiet) someplace where I don't have to smile all the time.
After that's done, the girls want to drive home. I'm all for leaving Memphis, but I'm not sure about being in the car another 8+ hours today. I'm already tired. I don't think I want to be up until 2:30 am. Oh, well. If we drive all the way home today I won't have to interact with them at all tomorrow. Maybe this won't be so bad after all. I do not plan to drive one little bit all the way home. I'm going to crawl in the back seat and watch movies. With headphones. So I don't have to acknowledge anything else that's happening in the car.
By the way, we rode the trolley from the hotel to Beale street. That was pretty fun. Food was not real great, but the Oatmeal Stout I drank was pretty good. And just being across the street from BB King's club was pretty cool.
I am not an extrovert. I can act like one for a while, but in the end it catches up to me. After all the driving I did yesterday and the incident with getting to the hotel yesterday, I'm already emotionally tired. We did get done with dinner and back to the hotel in time to watch Numbers last night (gotta love that show: geeks + cops--what more could you ask for?). The girls decided that we needed to do our nails last night. Well, I did repaint my toenails, but I did not participate in the 12-step Mary Kay pedicure. I do not wear makeup. I wash my face in the shower. I brush my teeth twice a day and my hair once a day. That is the sum total of my interaction with the cosmetics industry. So needless to say, I have no need for the 6-compartment super size travel case to hold my makeup, skincare, nailcare products and accessories. Both of the girls I'm with do. And JC is really good about making me feel like a fat dirty slob because I don't have a 5-step facewashing process and I don't want to go work out this morning. Ugh. I went, because I am apparently a sucker for peer pressure. But I only walked on that silly treadmill for about 10 minutes before I came back to the room (alone!) and took a bath with my laptop playing music I like.
This afternoon, we're going to a residency fair: a bunch of residency programs with tables set up to catch the interest and attention of passing medical students to encourage them to come work with us after they graduate from medical school. I like to do this. Really. But I can only do it for 3 or 4 hours at the time. Then I need to be alone (or at least quiet) someplace where I don't have to smile all the time.
After that's done, the girls want to drive home. I'm all for leaving Memphis, but I'm not sure about being in the car another 8+ hours today. I'm already tired. I don't think I want to be up until 2:30 am. Oh, well. If we drive all the way home today I won't have to interact with them at all tomorrow. Maybe this won't be so bad after all. I do not plan to drive one little bit all the way home. I'm going to crawl in the back seat and watch movies. With headphones. So I don't have to acknowledge anything else that's happening in the car.
By the way, we rode the trolley from the hotel to Beale street. That was pretty fun. Food was not real great, but the Oatmeal Stout I drank was pretty good. And just being across the street from BB King's club was pretty cool.
Blues City, here we come!
(written Friday, posted Sunday)
Well, today's the day. Going to Memphis. Actually, we're here already. It's been an adventure. We were supposed to meet at the airport at 8am. No, we didn't fly. That's where you pick up the rental car. Or rental monster, in this case. It's a Chevy TrailBlazer. Which, by the way, is a really big vehicle.
Our first adventure of the day was with the rental car company. The attendant at the A___ did not put on her happy face when she got out of bed this morning. So when we showed up and wanted to use our tax exempt status to rent a car without sales tax, that was outside of her range of acceptable behaviors. After multiple conversations with her manager (who was not on site, but on the phone), that was finally settled. So by the time we loaded our personal luggage in the Rental Monster and drove to the clinic to pick up the recruiting stuff (three big tubs worth), it was 9:30. So much for our early start.
Turns out, that wasn't so bad. Even with a 9:30 start time, we got to Memphis at about 5:30 pm.
Which leads to Adventures #2 & 3. They're closely linked. GW, the "adult" of the party, is easily worried and easily freaked out. Except, apparently, about important things. Like how to get to the hotel. We're within site of the Mississippi River when I say (because I'm driving), "OK, so how do we get to the hotel?" From the back seat (GW), "I don't know." She hadn't bothered to worry about that. "I-40 East to Memphis. It's in Memphis." Downtown Memphis, I might add. Fortunately, this is the age of the cell phone, so JC (front seat) calls the hotel and gets directions. Which leads us to Adventure #3: I was driving, so of course it was my fault we got lost. I'm telling you, I followed all the signs. We were supposed to go south on Front street from the interstate. There were two exits. One labelled "North Front Street" and the other labelled "South Front Street Riverside Drive." So I took the second. And ended up on Riverside drive with no obvious way to get to Front street. So, while we got a wonderful view of the river and Memphis's interaction with it, we had to call the hotel back for more directions. Fine. No big deal. Except that JC has said something about me getting us lost or me taking the wrong exit at least once an hour since. It's really wearing on me. badly.
Now we're all set for Adventure #4. We're going down to Beale Street for dinner. I don't seem to have a vote anymore since I got us lost (just ask JC. She'll tell you). Oh, well. I'm going to put on my happy face--well, maybe it better to say I'm going to try to hide my ugly face--and go along. More later.
Well, today's the day. Going to Memphis. Actually, we're here already. It's been an adventure. We were supposed to meet at the airport at 8am. No, we didn't fly. That's where you pick up the rental car. Or rental monster, in this case. It's a Chevy TrailBlazer. Which, by the way, is a really big vehicle.
Our first adventure of the day was with the rental car company. The attendant at the A___ did not put on her happy face when she got out of bed this morning. So when we showed up and wanted to use our tax exempt status to rent a car without sales tax, that was outside of her range of acceptable behaviors. After multiple conversations with her manager (who was not on site, but on the phone), that was finally settled. So by the time we loaded our personal luggage in the Rental Monster and drove to the clinic to pick up the recruiting stuff (three big tubs worth), it was 9:30. So much for our early start.
Turns out, that wasn't so bad. Even with a 9:30 start time, we got to Memphis at about 5:30 pm.
Which leads to Adventures #2 & 3. They're closely linked. GW, the "adult" of the party, is easily worried and easily freaked out. Except, apparently, about important things. Like how to get to the hotel. We're within site of the Mississippi River when I say (because I'm driving), "OK, so how do we get to the hotel?" From the back seat (GW), "I don't know." She hadn't bothered to worry about that. "I-40 East to Memphis. It's in Memphis." Downtown Memphis, I might add. Fortunately, this is the age of the cell phone, so JC (front seat) calls the hotel and gets directions. Which leads us to Adventure #3: I was driving, so of course it was my fault we got lost. I'm telling you, I followed all the signs. We were supposed to go south on Front street from the interstate. There were two exits. One labelled "North Front Street" and the other labelled "South Front Street Riverside Drive." So I took the second. And ended up on Riverside drive with no obvious way to get to Front street. So, while we got a wonderful view of the river and Memphis's interaction with it, we had to call the hotel back for more directions. Fine. No big deal. Except that JC has said something about me getting us lost or me taking the wrong exit at least once an hour since. It's really wearing on me. badly.
Now we're all set for Adventure #4. We're going down to Beale Street for dinner. I don't seem to have a vote anymore since I got us lost (just ask JC. She'll tell you). Oh, well. I'm going to put on my happy face--well, maybe it better to say I'm going to try to hide my ugly face--and go along. More later.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Last day of ER? Check.
Whew. It's finally over. Now I can go back to acting like I'm a doctor. Oh, wait. I am a doctor. Hmm...
Well, aside from that good news, here's another. I'm going to Memphis tomorrow. I am very excited. 20 hours in a rented vehicle over the next 48 hours is going to be...interesting. But, on the bright side, I'm not going to work tomorrow, I'm going to be with two other girls that I'm rather fond of, and I've borrowed a DVD player from PD, so we're set. I will be taking my laptop with me, so we'll see what happens. I'm also taking my bathing suit. Hmmm....
Well, aside from that good news, here's another. I'm going to Memphis tomorrow. I am very excited. 20 hours in a rented vehicle over the next 48 hours is going to be...interesting. But, on the bright side, I'm not going to work tomorrow, I'm going to be with two other girls that I'm rather fond of, and I've borrowed a DVD player from PD, so we're set. I will be taking my laptop with me, so we'll see what happens. I'm also taking my bathing suit. Hmmm....
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
I think I'm allergic to Wednesdays
This is the third or fourth Wednesday in a row that I have felt just generally yucky. I think I'm allergic to Wednesdays. Of course, if I wasn't on a rotation that I would find any excuse not to go to, I think my health would be a lot better.
No post yesterday 'cause of the storms. There was lots of wind, lots of (thankfully small) hail, and LOTS of rain. Electricity flashed, computer that controls the gateway to the internet shuts down, internet goes down. That computer is controlled by the computer mastermind (which is not me) and speaks neither English nor Spanish nor Medicalese (which are the only three I do speak), so I watched House instead. Gotta love that show. I can identify so well with the relationships and interactions on that show. They have bad medicine (like the metal iv pole in the MRI room), but who watches TV for accurate medicine, anyway? Certainly not anyobdy who went to med school or nursing school.
Wednesday is church day; that always makes me feel better. I don't know what I would do without people like PD and SA to keep up with me at church. I have a hard time connecting to people at church (might have something to do with having to work at least every other Sunday and most Wednesday nights most months), and these two, along with a couple others, still remember me and still ask dh about me when I'm not there.
No post yesterday 'cause of the storms. There was lots of wind, lots of (thankfully small) hail, and LOTS of rain. Electricity flashed, computer that controls the gateway to the internet shuts down, internet goes down. That computer is controlled by the computer mastermind (which is not me) and speaks neither English nor Spanish nor Medicalese (which are the only three I do speak), so I watched House instead. Gotta love that show. I can identify so well with the relationships and interactions on that show. They have bad medicine (like the metal iv pole in the MRI room), but who watches TV for accurate medicine, anyway? Certainly not anyobdy who went to med school or nursing school.
Wednesday is church day; that always makes me feel better. I don't know what I would do without people like PD and SA to keep up with me at church. I have a hard time connecting to people at church (might have something to do with having to work at least every other Sunday and most Wednesday nights most months), and these two, along with a couple others, still remember me and still ask dh about me when I'm not there.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Last week of ER starts today
One would think, given how little I've worked this month, that I would be sad to see it go. Well, one would be wrong. I am quite ready to move on to something else, thank you very much. Wandering around following somebody like this would have been fine when I was a med student, but that's been a little while. Long enough that I think my time is more valuable spent elsewhere. Especially when ER doc JD gets his panties in a twist and doesn't even want me to follow him around. Do you realize how much knitting I could have gotten done this month if I thought I could get away with it?
Anyway, it'll be over soon. And what with TPT and my continuity clinics, I only have to show my face in that ER for 3 more half-days. Then the big Tennessee trip. It has been gradually whittled down from 5 girls going to 3. If it comes down to just me and Glenna, I'm going! I like road trips, and I certainly think this program needs more girls. And I like spending time with Glenna. Hopefully I'll have my sunglasses by then.
Anyway, it'll be over soon. And what with TPT and my continuity clinics, I only have to show my face in that ER for 3 more half-days. Then the big Tennessee trip. It has been gradually whittled down from 5 girls going to 3. If it comes down to just me and Glenna, I'm going! I like road trips, and I certainly think this program needs more girls. And I like spending time with Glenna. Hopefully I'll have my sunglasses by then.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Ground Rules
New Blog, new rules.
- This is my space. I make the rules.
- When I need to "debrief" or process my day, it will be done here. I won't violate anybody's Confidentiality, but I won't make any guarantees about anybody's Sensibilities. I sometimes encounter yucky stuff.
- Any questions, please refer to rule #1
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